Odeon Bishop Auckland

Tenters Street,

Bishop Auckland,
DL14

My apologies. I knew of Alan Smith (via Walter Aylen of Bishop Auckland Odeon and Creswell Watson of Shildon Essoldo where he had worked as a projectionist prior to Bishop Auckland).

He did indeed die tragically in Bournemouth (a drowning incident). Apologies to Ken Close also whom I knew very well at Halifax who had worked at Bishop Auckland with Walter Aylen. The two did indeed look very similar!

Also one taken on the Front of House in the 1960’s:–
Manager, Walter Aylen is on the left making a presentation to Assistant Manager, Ken Close as he transferred to another Rank Theatre. Walter was a seasoned Rank Manager who started at the Palace Sunderland (a Gaumont theatre) in the 1930’s. I knew Ken as Manager of the Odeon Halifax when I used to take over as Relief Manager at the ABC in the same town in the mid 1970’s where we had some good times. I heard from Ken recently and he is still alive and well and living in Halifax.